Wadjda

Wadjda, an 11-year-old Saudi girl living in the capital Riyadh, dreams of owning a green bicycle that she passes in a store every day on her way to school. She wants to race against her friend Abdullah, a boy from the neighbourhood. Riding bikes is against the law for girls and Wadjda's mother refuses to buy one for her daughter. She is distracted by trying to convince her husband not to take a second wife as Wadjda tries to find the money herself by selling mixed tapes and through other forbidden activities in the school yard. However, Wadjda runs afoul of the strict headmistress and thus decides to participate in a Koran recital competition. Winning the cash prize of SR1,000 would allow her to pay for the bike. Her efforts at memorising the verses soon make others see Wadjda as a model pious girl.